inquisitiveness

[in-kwiz-i-tiv-nis]

noun

1. the quality of being given to asking questions; intellectual curiosity or eagerness for knowledge.

   Younger students often have an amazing sense of curiosity and inquisitiveness that naturally leads them into exploring and learning.

2. the quality of being excessively or inappropriately curious about other people’s affairs; nosiness.

   My landlord's inquisitiveness made me determined to seek more desirable accommodations elsewhere.

Other Word Forms

• superinquisitiveness noun
• uninquisitiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inquisitiveness¹

inquisitive ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Of course she winds up paying for her inquisitiveness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But she voices this with an inquisitiveness instead of sorrow.

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"But I've got enough creativity and inquisitiveness to find learning opportunities as we go."

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That task could be painful, but Bogle, now 79, had the empathy, even keel and inquisitiveness to pull it off.

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"There is an openness and inquisitiveness. He wants to ask questions, start dialogue and debate his game. That is great from our perspective."

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